The Foreign Desk
Monocle’s global-affairs show with Andrew Mueller. Expert guests, in-depth analysis, and sharp commentary on major geopolitical issues.
Latest Episodes
US election counterintuitives
Trump the peacemaker, Obama the deporter, George W Bush the foreign aider. Ahead of the election, we interrogate the counterintuitive positions candidates have taken against their party’s (and their own) image, once in office.…
How the war in Ukraine has reshaped Asian foreign policy
The war in Ukraine and Russia has affected East Asian foreign policy in more ways than you might expect. We explore North and South Korea’s involvement in the conflict with former UK ambassador John…
Artificial intelligence: Scourge or saviour?
We explore the effects of artificial intelligence and the governments that are desperately trying to keep up with the technology. Are we all doomed or is there hope for mankind? Andrew Mueller speaks with…
Strange borders
With arbitrary borders and conflicts becoming more fashionable of late, we explore three of the world’s stranger borders: Norway-Russia, Spain-Gibraltar and the Beaufort Sea between the US and Canada. Plus: Jonn Elledge author of…
Reflections on 7 October and the future
We look back on Hamas’s brutal attack, Israel’s deadly retaliation and the international community’s hopeless response. One year on, do we have any idea how this ends? Andrew Mueller speaks with Mairav Zonszein in…
Where does Hezbollah go from here?
The Foreign Desk is live in the immediate hours after Israel announced the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Andrew Mueller speaks with David Wood of the International Crisis Group in Beirut, and analysts…
Keeping the Balkan peace
It has been more than a decade since a Western Balkan nation joined the European Union and long-simmering tensions between neighbours in the region are beginning to fray. In this special episode, largely recorded…
In defence of Europe
After the election of US president Donald Trump in 2016 and Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, a consensus has formed that Europe needs to do more – and spend more –…
Globsec 2024 highlights
The first edition in our special series recorded at the Globsec Forum in Prague. We hear a selection of highlights including an insight into defending a country during active conflict with Ukraine’s former defence…
Is centrism in retreat?
Amid this year’s elections, protests, frustrations and rise in authoritarianism, we explore what centrism really stands for – and whether it is on the march or in retreat. Andrew Mueller speaks with Monocle’s Paris…
